Oak Glen looks forward to a good crop of apples — and tourists

Growers in Oak Glen are expecting a good harvest in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains as tourist season arrives.

“Our crops are looking good. We’ll get a lot of nice cider, a lot of fresh apple butter, caramel apples, apple bread, you name it,” said Alison Law-Mathison of Moms Country Orchards, a shop that sells jams, jellies, honey and other products made locally.

She is a member of the Law family, longtime growers in Oak Glen. Its orchards supply her shop.

Apple trees don’t like extreme heat. After several scorching summers, this year has been mild by comparison.

“This is more normal,” said Michael Hudson of Snow-Line Orchard. “It just seems weird because it’s been abnormal for so long. This year seems like a normal fall.”

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At elevations of 4,000-5,000 feet above sea level, temperatures average in the 80s in September, cooling down to the 70s in October, which Law-Mathison called “the queen of apple season.”

Apple season traditionally begins Labor Day weekend, although some early varieties start in August. It will continue through Thanksgiving, which the community marks with an Apple Butter Festival.

There are dozens of varieties ripening throughout the season in Oak Glen. Snow-Line is currently selling Gravenstein and Mutsu apples in its store, and it has U-pick raspberries as well.

Golden Delicious and Glen Seedling apples as well as pears are ready for the picking at Stone Pantry Orchards, owner Freeman House said in an email, and he expects to start picking Red Delicious this weekend.

Some orchards sell freshly picked apples, and others offer visitors the chance to pick their own starting around $3.50 a pound. Visitors can also buy fresh-pressed cider or press their own at some orchards.

Business hours expand as tourism picks up. Some orchards are open daily, some are open on weekends, and some are open by appointment or for special events such as tastings and farm-to-table dinners.

Visitors like Oak Glen for the fall weather and the chance to get close to nature, according to Law-Mathison.

“They’re curious about how they get their food. It’s a great experience.”

Information about orchards and other businesses is available on the Oak Glen Apple Growers Association website, oakglen.net.